Freezing potato dumplings: Tips for perfect preservation
Although potato dumplings are a simple and inexpensive dish, their preparation requires some time and effort. Cooking and cooling the potatoes, making the dough, and cooking the dumplings in batches can easily take an hour or two in the kitchen. Therefore, whenever I have a bit more time, I prepare a batch in advance and later simply take them out of the freezer for a ready meal.
You can freeze both raw and cooked dumplings, provided you do it properly. Contrary to popular belief, freezing raw dumplings is easier because fully cooked ones can become hard when thawed and recooked or fried.
How to freeze raw potato dumplings?
Unfortunately, you cannot simply place them in a container and put them in the freezer because they will stick together. Prepared dumplings should be arranged on a flour-dusted tray. First, check if the tray fits in your freezer. When arranging the dumplings, ensure there is space between them. After 2 hours, transfer the dumplings from the tray into a sealed container or a ziplock bag. Label the packaging with the current date and consume within 3 months.
To defrost such raw dumplings, just toss them into salted boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes from the moment they float to the surface. Drop them in batches to prevent sticking, and use a slotted spoon to remove them.
How to freeze cooked potato dumplings?
If you wish to freeze cooked dumplings, ensure they are not too soft. It's best to put them into boiling water and take them out immediately after they float to the surface. After removing, immerse them in a bowl of icy water for a few seconds – this way they'll become firm and less prone to damage. Next, arrange them on a tray and leave them to cool completely. Once cooled, coat them in oil and place the tray in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer them to sealed containers.
You no longer need to cook these dumplings. Leave them in the fridge to defrost, and then toss them into a pan with a small amount of heated fat. You can also put them in the oven to bake, with parmesan or mozzarella, for example. In this form, they will be excellent with chicken in a creamy thyme sauce or a simple salad with roasted beets and goat cheese.
